Learn about African food, history and culture

Africa is home to more unknown history than known. A map of Africa does not begin to show the vastness of people, culture, food, living and ancient history. Established 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet are learning tools to meet the demand for better education about the entire continent of Africa.

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Welcome from Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet

A lion that is caged will hate the one that is free.
- with love from your ancestors

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Female game rangers on the dangerous poaching front lines

Female game rangers on the dangerous poaching front lines

Women game rangers to the rescue of animals. Illegally taking animals from the wild threatens many species with extinction, poaching in Africa is a major issue.

Training of female game rangers

Female game rangers on the front lines stopping poaching in Africa

Poachers sometimes
kill or capture animals to sell them locally or for the global trade in
wildlife. Wildlife trading is a major black market that has increased as food,
jewelry, decor, or traditional medicine. Poaching has devastating consequences
for wildlife. In some instances, it is the primary reason why an animal faces a
risk of extinction.

The beautiful but
deadly serious Black Mamba anti-poaching unit is a South African ranger group
consisting mostly of women, brave women. Since it was first created in 2013,
the 26 member unit has arrested six poachers, shut down five poacher camps, and
reduced snaring by 76 percent in the Balule Private Game Reserve.

July 31st of each
year is World Ranger Day to honor those rangers all over the world who have
died in the course of their duties but also those who risk their lives every
day at the forefront of conservation. Unfortunately being employed, as an
anti-poaching game ranger is a very dangerous job, between 2009 and 2017, 740
rangers have died in the line of duty.

“Their many
successes are a result of their impressive courage and determination to make a
difference in their community. The Black Mambas are an inspiration not only
locally, but across the world to all those working to eliminate the scourge of
the illegal wildlife trade.” said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

The area that they
protect, the Balule Private Game Reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife
including not only rhino but leopards, lions, elephants, cheetahs, and hippos.
It is part of the Greater Kruger National Park, a network of over 2 million
hectares of protected areas that are home to thousands of birds, impalas,
giraffes, wildebeest, buffalos, antelopes, hyenas, crocodiles, fish and zebras.

Protecting the rhino
is vital in South Africa, where 1,215 rhinos were killed in 2014 alone. This is
an increase of over 12,000 percent since 2004 and symptomatic of a devastating
epidemic that has pushed the rhino closer to the edge of extinction. The Black
Mambas are an inspiration not only locally, but across the world to all those
working to eliminate the scourge of the illegal wildlife trade.

Black Mambas
Anti-Poaching Unit located in Hoedspruit, South Africa objective is to strive
to create a strong bond and educate communities that live on the boundaries of
Balule Nature Reserve and the Greater Kruger Park to the benefits of saving
their natural heritage.

Stopping poachers is
particularly vital in South Africa, where 1,215 endangered rhinos were killed
in 2014. Rhinoceros horns are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on the
international black market. The Balule has an open border with the world-famous
Kruger National Park which has been plagued by poachers.

Leitah Mkhabela, a
member of the Black Mamba rangers, said: “I am not afraid, I know what I am
doing and I know why I am doing it. If you see the poachers, you tell them not
to try, tell them we are here and it is they who are in danger. Animals deserve
to live; they have a right to live. Do your part. When demand ends, the killing
will end. Say yes to life. Say no to illegal rhino horn and elephant ivory.”

The Black Mamba’s
awarded by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) were honored with
its highest environmental prize, Champions of the Earth Award.

Poachers are
becoming increasingly sophisticated to bring down wild creatures and have
access to heavy weaponry, while often state-supported rangers lack basic
equipment, even boots, and socks, while working in treacherous conditions.
Poaching has been linked to armed militia groups in Africa suspected of
trafficking ivory to fund their operations.

International
agreements, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES), seek to reduce poaching incentives by regulating worldwide commercial
trade in wild animal and plant species.

African spirituality plays a great part in the history of the world.Do not respond to a mosquito with a hammer because you will miss and hurt yourself. ~ Kenyan Proverb

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Africa is home to more unknown history than known. A map of Africa does not begin to show the vastness of people, culture, food, living and ancient history of the African continent. Established 2008 Chic African Culture is a learning tool to meet the demand for better education about the entire continent of Africa.

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About Us

Why are we here? Since its founding in 2008, Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet goal is to highlight Africa through her food and culture.